Know the Novel | October 2020

October is nearing its end which means... NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH IS UPON US!

It also means the return of Christine’s fabulous Know the Novel linkup, which is so much fun. Even though my NaNo plans are quite different from usual, I’m excited to share a little bit about those plans.

But first, here’s some info about Know the Novel:

Know the Novel is a blog party created by Christine Smith. Taking place in October, November, and December, the linkup is where writers can share about their NaNoWriMo projects (or any writing project!). To find out more information and join the fun, check out Christine’s blog post!

What first sparked the idea for this novel?
The Treasonist’s Son is the followup to The Assassin’s Daughter, and I first got the idea for it sometime in autumn of 2010, in the middle of TAD’s first draft. I didn’t start working on the first draft of TTS until 2011 though.

Over the course of writing TAD, I would usually jump into a draft of TTS shortly after because I was initially revising them almost side-by-side. Now though, it’s my main project and though slower in progress than I’d like, it’s moving along.

Usually, I like to start a completely new draft for NaNoWriMo (whether an entirely new story or a new draft of an older one), but this year I am planning to continue with TTS until it is done. I’m also hoping to finish a short story or flash fiction as well. 

More than one project during NaNo?
Yeah, sure, let’s go for it...


Share a blurb (or just an overall summary if you’d prefer)!
In the weeks following their treasonous choices and a narrow escape from arrest, Katira and Edellion seek refuge in the unfamiliar city of Devmore. But allies and refuge aren’t as certain as they hope, and Devmore is hiding secrets of its own.

(It is not a good blurb but one day I’ll write a decent one. *laughs nervously*)

 
Where does the story take place? What are some of your favorite aspects about the setting?
Mostly, the story takes place in Devmore and Millevelin (a city from the first book). Both cities are tense places to be in their current circumstances, so conveying those tensions in a way that is unique to each one has been a challenge. For Kat and Ed, especially, Devmore is a lot different than what they’ve been used to for a long time. It’s crowded and uncertain, and full of secrets.

Something unique though… I guess is more about writing about Devmore? On the one hand, it’s a new place for Kat and Ed and so there are times it is written as this strange place for them to be. On the other hand, another POV character has spent his entire life there, and it is home and familiar and something he wants to protect. So it’s been a challenge in exploring those different points-of-view about the same place, especially when these characters run in different circles.

Tell us about your protagonist(s).
 
K A T I R A
seventeen years old | assassin’s apprentice | anxiety | questioning her choices | misses her family | just wants things to be “normal” again | regrets  | Ed’s best friend | can fight but would really rather not

E D E L L I O N
seventeen years old | assassin’s apprentice | Kat’s best friend | stabby | can’t go back to how things used to be | some regrets | anxious but won’t admit it | food and sleep would be nice, thanks
 
Who (or what) is the antagonist?
There are a few different antagonists, but one aspect that has been interesting to delve into is the past as an antagonistic force? It can’t be changed, but how much does it play into a character’s current choices? Can one use the past as an advantage or a weapon? How does their perception of it change and influence their present?
 
What excites you the most about this novel?
I’m excited about introducing some new characters, and from the reader feedback I have so far, I think people like them!

There is also a thing about Ed’s arc that I am really excited about, even though I’m not exactly sure if I can convey it in the way I hope it will be? It’ll be a challenge, but I am really excited to try to get it right.

Is this going to be a series? standalone? something else?
Part of a series.

Are you plotting? pantsing? plansting?
Plantsing. While this is a revision draft, there are a few new scenes that are being added in. I know where they need to fit and what they need to achieve, but it’s more of a guideline. Once the draft is done, I can compare it to the outline I started with, see what worked and what didn’t, and continue from there.

Name a few unique elements about this story.
It’s not super unique as far as sequel territory goes, but The Treasonist’s Son delves a bit into Ed’s history and some things that revolve around that. He doesn’t like to dwell too long on the past and he’s reluctant to address it (even to himself!), so there is a lot to uncover and unpack.

He spends 98% of this book being very uncomfortable and does not care for it at all and I am loving it.

Share some fun “extras” of the story (a song or full playlist, some aesthetics, a collage, a Pinterest board, a map you’ve made, a special theme you’re going to incorporate, ANYTHING you want to share!).

 
An older collage for TTS. All images from Unsplash.

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo this year? Let’s be NaNo buddies!


Comments

  1. AAAAHHHH YOU DID THE LINKUP AND YOU'RE WRITING MORE OF TTS AND JUST YAAAAY!!!! This whole post made me so happy!

    It was a TREAT getting a closer look at what all Kat and Ed are up to in this sequel. It sounds like it's going to be such a painful one for Ed. Poor fella.

    I also LOVE the idea of Devmore being an uncomfortable place for the main characters, and a good place for another one. That sounds fascinating portraying it through different POVs like that! :D

    This all just sounds amazing! I do hope NaNo proves to be a spectacular month of writing. Cheering you on, girl! <3

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    1. Know the Novel is one of my favorite NaNo-season things! :D

      Yeah... "Painful" is probably a good descriptor for this book? *laughs nervously* But I feel like the characters have gotten their revenge on their author by keeping it a challenging process?

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  2. I LOVE the titles of both stories! Those alone make me want to read them! That collage is so pretty! ^_^ Kat and Ed sound so interesting and I love how you described them!

    Best of luck on NaNo!!!

    (I found you through Christine's blog when she did your AboutTheAuthor August Tag as a blog post, sorry I haven't been able to comment yet. I don't blog on Blogger so it took me a while to set up an account to follow you... and then I keep forgetting to actually go check Blogger for posts. *sheepishly hides behind fingers* I love your blog name!)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much!

      Welcome to LW! I'll definitely be checking out your About the Author post (and thanks for joining!)!

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  3. This story sounds so interesting. I found the blurb pretty good. And I just love the antagonistic force! That is awesome idea!
    I love your characters. They sound like the perfect mess that I want to read about. XD
    (And I just found you through Christine's linkup! I am hoping to be looking around when I have the time!)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! It can be a challenge to write them, but I do love them and their messiness. :D

      Welcome to LW!

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